Private Great Ocean Road Day Trip from Melbourne
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Melbourne, Australia
- 10 to 14 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
See the Twelve Apostles, The Otways and other highlights of the Great Ocean Road on a private full-day tour from Melbourne. Travel the renowned scenic route with your own private guide, stopping for photo ops at Bells Beach, Split Point Lighthouse and other locations. Have lunch in Apollo Bay, take a rainforest walk, and top off your day with a visit to the Twelve Apostles. You may also see koalas in the wild and hand-feed parrots.
- Private full-day Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne
- Try fresh seafood during lunch in Apollo Bay (own expense)
- Watch the surfers at Bells Beach and stroll through the Australian rain forest
- Includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Melbourne
What's Included
- Private tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Admission Fee - 12 Apostles Lookouts Entry Fee
- Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pick-up from private addresses
Start time.8:00 am
Itinerary
After morning pickup from your Melbourne hotel, leave the city via West Gate Bridge, taking in views of the port and city center.
Continue along the highway to the Great Ocean Road where you can see long deserted beaches and roaring surf on the coast, and national parks that shelter wildlife. Stop for photo ops at Bells Beach, a favorite among surfers. Then drive to Split Point Lighthouse, where the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean meet.
Purchase lunch in the small town of Apollo Bay, where the restaurants are known for fresh fish and seafood. Afterward, take an easy walk in a rainforest that has towering arborescent ferns and eucalyptus trees that can be 300 years old.
In the afternoon, arrive at the Twelve Apostles, the hulking rock formations that are one of the highlights of the drive. Walk down the Gibson Steps to access the beach at the foot of the Apostles for another perspective on the natural monuments.
Your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel in Melbourne in the evening.
Continue along the highway to the Great Ocean Road where you can see long deserted beaches and roaring surf on the coast, and national parks that shelter wildlife. Stop for photo ops at Bells Beach, a favorite among surfers. Then drive to Split Point Lighthouse, where the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean meet.
Purchase lunch in the small town of Apollo Bay, where the restaurants are known for fresh fish and seafood. Afterward, take an easy walk in a rainforest that has towering arborescent ferns and eucalyptus trees that can be 300 years old.
In the afternoon, arrive at the Twelve Apostles, the hulking rock formations that are one of the highlights of the drive. Walk down the Gibson Steps to access the beach at the foot of the Apostles for another perspective on the natural monuments.
Your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel in Melbourne in the evening.
1
Bells Beach
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
The Chocolateries Great Ocean Road
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Great Ocean Road Memorial Archway
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Teddy's Lookout
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Kennett River
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Apollo Bay Seafood Cafe
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
7
Twelve Apostles
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infant seats available
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- A maximum of 11 people per booking
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 51 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Although we did get to see the places on the itinerary the guide Neil was unable to be understood. My brother actually had to show him how to set up the amplifier. The van itself had seats that were extremely small (we are not heavy people) and were very uncomfortable. The retractable step to exit the van did not work 95% of the time. He did not seem familiar with the vehicle. My sister actually almost fell when trying to exit when the step did not come out. None of the sites were truly explained since Neil had trouble speaking. He had at least 10 personal calls while he continued to drive. His instructions regarding the time in each place was very vague.
We had been told by friends that this was a must do excursion and we all exited and looking forward to a wonderful day. . It turned out to be terrible! We were 7 in our group and each of us were totally disappointed! I have never written a bad review but I do believe you should be aware of this fiasco. I believe we deserve compensation for this abomination!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We are genuinely very sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations.
We are particularly concerned to hear about the issues you raised regarding the vehicle, the retractable step, and the clarity of communication during the tour. Guest safety, comfort, and clear commentary are fundamental to our service, and it is disappointing to learn that we did not meet those standards on this occasion. Your comments regarding the phone calls and time management at stops are also being taken seriously.
Please be assured that this feedback has been shared with our operations team so that we can investigate the matters raised and prevent similar situations in the future.
We understand how much anticipation goes into a special day out, especially when travelling as a group, and we truly regret that the experience did not meet your expectations.
This tour along the Great Ocean Road was absolutely incredible — truly one of the highlights of my trip!
Maxim picked me up right on time from my hotel in a very comfortable vehicle, which made the long scenic drive relaxing and enjoyable from the very beginning. Along the way, he shared fascinating stories about Australian history, making the journey as interesting as the destinations themselves.
We visited some of the most iconic and breathtaking locations, including Bells Beach, the monument honoring the veterans who built the road, the historic lighthouse, and of course the magnificent Twelve Apostles. In addition to the main stops, Maxim frequently pulled over at the most scenic viewpoints so I could take beautiful photos — which made the experience feel very personal and unhurried.
One of the most special parts of the day was spotting wild koalas resting in eucalyptus trees — we stopped several times to observe them in their natural habitat. On the way back, we also drove to see wild kangaroos, and passed through pastoral landscapes with farming areas and charming small towns, which added a lovely glimpse into regional Australia.
What made the tour truly exceptional was Maxim’s depth of knowledge and enthusiasm. He didn’t just talk about Australian history — he explained the geological origins of the dramatic rock formations, discussed important military events that influenced Asia’s history, and even shared insights about Australia’s modern economy. The conversations were thoughtful, engaging, and intellectually stimulating.
The entire day was beautifully paced, informative, and inspiring. I learned so much while seeing some of the most stunning landscapes in the world.
Highly recommended — and especially with Maxim as your guide!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
It was an absolute pleasure sharing the Great Ocean Road with you. I really enjoyed our conversations as well — thank you for making the day so engaging and memorable. You’re always welcome back for another adventure!
Great tour, the 12 apostles is a sight not to be missed, totally worth the long ride. Two thumbs up for this tour
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you!
Absolute amazing trip. Richard was a wonderful guide. Recommend this trip to everyone. So much was seen in one day.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear David. Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you had such an amazing experience on your Great Ocean Road tour. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another Bilby Tours adventure soon!
Our guide was Milan,
he was one of the best tour guides that we’ve had by comparison of many trips around the world that we have taken.
His deep knowledge having traveled this route for many years - with his family and his friends - from when he was young man doing everything from scuba diving to camping to wildlife watching was demonstrated by his knowledge of where to go - what to do - and when to do it.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Dear Michael,
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. We're absolutely thrilled to hear that Milan made such a strong impression — he truly is a gem, and we’re lucky to have him on our team.
We hope your travels continue to be filled with memorable adventures, and we’d love to welcome you back anytime you're exploring more of Victoria.
The best driver/guide tour I have had anywhere in the world I have traveled to but 2 continents. Richard’s knowledge and willingness to share was fantastic. This could have been a 12-14 hr tour but he was able to adjust stops and time spent so we could do the tour in 10.5 hours without missing the major points of interest.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Dear Theresa.
Thank you so much for your glowing review and 100% recommendation!
We’ll surely pass your kind words to Richard — he’ll be delighted!
Wishing you many more incredible journeys ahead, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Victoria soon.
Regards,
Max
Our guide, Michael, was informative, thoughtful and delightful. We saw so many great things along the way. He shared history before each stop. Offered rest breaks. And shared timing updates to ensure we didn’t miss our ship’s departure. Top notch communication!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Dear Dawn.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had an awesome day exploring the Great Ocean Road with Michael. We’re glad his communication and planning helped ensure a stress-free and memorable journey.
Safe travels, and best wishes from all of us at Bilbytravel.
We loved taking a tour of the Great Ocean Road.
Seeing the 12 Apostles was a highlight! Along with kangaroos and a koala.
Michael was an outstanding guide!!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that Michael was an outstanding guide for your journey. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
A great private tour experience for our group of 11 (kids to seniors) although we didn’t manage to cover all (it’s customary & our request), but the highlight of the day was the helicopter ride and it was awesomely amazing & thank you Micheal (the driver) for accommodating to our requests along the way.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience!
We're delighted that you and your group had a great time, especially with the helicopter ride—it sounds like a real highlight! We’re glad Michael could make your tour enjoyable and flexible to your needs. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
The stunning place is worth every bit of efforts it takes to reach there. The whole journey is an experience of a lifetime. Our driver and guide Neil was excellent and very knowledgable. He let us take in all the sights along the way.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you found the destination stunning and the journey unforgettable. Neil will be pleased to know his efforts and knowledge made your trip even more enjoyable. We look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure soon!
Our day with Richard was wonderful. He was friendly, informative, and was also a good driver. He showed us some areas of the Great Ocean Road that many people don’t see, and the lunch recommendations were spot on. The Great Ocean Road is spectacular, and a trip we will remember for a long time. Thanks, Richard!
Richard took us to Apollo Bay for fish and chips, the best kind of that we ever had!
He was on time and attentive.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Hello Feifei! Thanks for the awesome review! Sounds like Richard rocked your Great Ocean Road trip! We're stoked you had a blast! Hope to see you on another adventure!
Incredible trip! My family had a lot of fun. Our guide Mark was great and very helpful!! The views were amazing.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you for your feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your family had an incredible trip and that Mark's guidance added to your enjoyment. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!
Our driver has extensive knowledge on the history behind the scenery of this trip, he has made great effort trying to find the koala and kangaroo along the way, in top of that the vehicle is spacious and clean and we have a wonderful time
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on our trip. Our knowledgeable driver is dedicated to providing an excellent experience, and we're delighted that you appreciated their efforts. The cleanliness and spaciousness of our vehicle are top priorities for us. We hope to have the pleasure of serving you again in the future.
We were a group of Canadians who were attending a wedding in Wye Riiver and Matt arranged a custom trip for us where we started at the end of the tour and worked our way back and were dropped at the wedding destination! It was great! Matt was an excellent driver/guide and kept us informed and entertained the whole way! Would highly recommend him and his tour!
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Thanks, Antoinette.
Would love to see see you again.
Our family had a blast.
Max our driver/guide is such a great guy and has lots of knowledge to share with about our trip.
Excellent experience.
Thanks Max from our family.
-Michael-
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Hi Michael.
Thanks for the review and hope to see you again, next time when you come back to Melbourne
Was a good day. Richard made efforts to make sure we saw everything! Some good tips too on where to eat!
We are lucky to have Micheal as our guide, he is a very good driver, know the Great Ocean Road in and out, stop at all the spectacular view points all throughout our 12 hrs trip. He is a Russian Immigrant who spoke perfect English , highly educated, like to write poem and compose song , he had his own CD in Russian, and share with us all along the trip. Overall its a wonderful trip highly recommended. Will post a photo of him with my wife Grace underneath.
Driver did an excellent job of getting us to different sites but was very weak on commentary and History of visited areas.
Paid a lot for this tour and expected an experience Guide.
Max, our guide, made sure all our interests for two couples fit into the itinerary, and he was engaging and informative. It was a terrific trip.
The driver was very polite and attentive! The walk is well worth it! The landscapes are beautiful and the 12 Apostles are worth every penny!
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Response from Host, Jan 2026
¡Muchas gracias por tu encantadora reseña! Nos alegra saber que la experiencia valió cada centavo y esperamos darte la bienvenida nuevamente en otro tour con nosotros en el futuro 😊
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re glad the experience was worth every cent for you and hope to welcome you back on another tour with us in the future
Member Pricing
From
$445.70
per personWas $469.16(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Great Ocean Road Day Trip from Melbourne
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